Process of coating edges of lenses



Patentecl Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT osncs.

WILIIAIM'. J. WRIGHTON, OF SOUTHBRI'DGE. MASSAGHUSE'ITS, ASSIGNOR. T AMERI- CA1\T OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY AS- soommon OF massecnnsnrrs.

PROCESS OF COATING EDGES OF LENSES.

Application flled August 11, 1922. Serie] No. 581,094.

T0 all w/wm z't ma z concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. WRIGH- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in tl1e county of Wo1cester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Coating Edges of Lenses, of which the following is a specification.

This inventiori relates to a new and improved process for coating the edges of rimess lenses and relates particularly to that type of a lens wherein the edge of the lens is so constructed as to reflect a dangerous li ht across the eyes of the wearer.

he main object of my invention is the process of applying a coating or the like to the edge of an ophthalmic lens to prevent dangerous rays of light frorn being reflected thrn the edge of the rimless lenses, especially tl1e minus type of lens wherein the outer edge of the lens is considerably wider tl1an tlie central portion thereof, the wider portion of the lens reflecting a li ht directly across the eyes of the wearer w ich is very dangerous if not prohibited.

At. the present time there is placed upon the market what is known as a colonial slnapecl lens. It is another object of my invention to provide a process fox applying a coating to the edges of these various ty es of lenses so as to eliminate the reflectwn of the light from the edge of the lens across the eyes of the wearer as in a great many cases the edges of the lens are beveled and will reflect this light very quickly.

With the above and other objects in view tlae invention consists in the novel features of construction, tl1e combination an arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set fortl1, ointed out in the claims and sl1own in t e accompanying drawings, in vvl1icl1 Figure I is e side elevati0n of a lens and tube illustrating the manner in which the material is applied to the edge of the lens. Figue II is a front elevation of a baking ovsnused in connection with my improvecl process.

Figure III is a horizontal sectional view thru the baking oven taken online III-III in Figaro H.

Figure IV is a sectional view of a. lens showing the enamel or coating applie thereto, and

Figure V is a similar view illustrating the bevel at the edge of the lens.

In carrying out my improved. process the lens is first cleansed with a soft clean cloth and any dust or hair removed from the rim of the lens with a small camel-hair brush or the like. 'Ihe lens is then either held in the hand or rotated slowly in any desired manner while the nozzle 1 of the tube 2 is arranged over the edge of the lens, pressure exerted upon the exterior of the tube 2 forcing the enamel thru the nozzle 1 onto the periphery of the lens 3.

After this enamel or coating has been applied to the edge of the lens the lens 1S placed in the heating oven i having a rotating shelf portion 5 containing a plurality of compartments 6 whereby the dii'erent coating or enamel jobs to be done can be placed in individual cells within the bak- 1ng o"en so that should the operator desire to remove any particular ob contained within. the shelves they can rotate the shelf portion 5 until the proper compartment is brought before the door opening 7, whereby the lens may be quickly removed from the compartments.

In the baking of this coatin or enamel various baking times are use in accordance with the arrangement of the lenses in (he oven. 'Ihe lenses on the lower shelf near the heated chamber will bake considerably quicker than the lenses toward the top, therefore, the timing of the baking must be arranged accordingly.

After the coating has been baked to the proper degree the edges of the lens may be beveled ofi to assure a clean out and. sharp edge of the enamel. After this has been done the final polish is applie to the rim by rubbing or if it is des1red a solvent can be applied to the coatin and olished with a soft cloth so that a 0 ean g ossj appear ance is brought out. It is to be understood that a ratl1er high gloss finish is roduced from this coating altl1ough if= esired a rough snrface may be applied thereto.

In Figure IV I have illustrated a sectional view of a lens showing the rim 8 in place upon the edge of the lens wl1ile in Figure V a snbstantially completed lens is illustrated showingthe corners beveled o as at 9 which produces a very neet finished product.

What I claim is 1. The process of coating lens edges conssting in applying a plastic coating to the edge of the lens, bakmg this coating to a hardened condition, applying a solvent to the baked coating and polishing the Same to a finisl1ed condition.

2. The process of coating lenses consisting in applying a plastic. coating to the edge of the lens, placing the coated lens in a l1eated oven and baking the same, applyng a solvent to the baked coating and poli'sh- 15 ing the surface of the coating and beveling the opposed side edges of the lens.

3. The process of coating lens edges consisting in cleansing the lens, forcing a plastic coating from a tube onto the pesolvent to the plastic coating, anil then 25 polishing the same to the desired finish.

WILLIAM J. WRIGHTON. 

